Story
I thought I’d meet this year, in which I’ll be seeing in my 50th birthday, by setting myself a challenge. Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro seemed to be a good choice. Why? Well it incorporates my pet hates of camping and the cold (minus 20 at summit camp, ugh!). Whilst I’m pretty fit and workout regularly, all my exercise is taken in the controlled and air conditioned atmosphere of my gym – and that’s the way I’ve always liked it! I’m totally out of my comfort zone on this one and I suspect that’ll be pretty good for me.
Why do I want to fund raise for Toynbee Hall? Well I used to work for Tower Hamlets Primary Care Trust and consequently know about the great work they do. Since its foundation in 1884, Toynbee Hall continues to produce practical and innovative programmes to meet the diverse needs of the local people, to improve their conditions and enable communities to fulfil their potential. Currently, Tower Hamlets is the third most deprived borough in the country and Toynbee Hall works closely with over 6,000 members of the community each year to support them to meet the challenges that they face and to encourage them to take control of their lives. To support Toynbee Hall's work, around 400 residential and non-residential volunteers bring their expertise, experience and enthusiasim to help meet the needs of the local people. Toynbee Hall's work is themed across the areas of Advice, Community Learning, Financial Inclusion, and Wellbeing. To find out more about the various projects, please visit www.toynbeehall.org.uk/projects.
To cap it all my sister is Toynbee Hall's Fundraising Manager, so my choice was easily made. Please make yours and donate as much as you can to my ‘heroic’ efforts.
Thank you – Deborah 'Kilimanjaro' Russell